Limit your discussions on core issues and not to resort to personal attacks – Bono Minister to residents in Sunyani

The immediate past Municipal Chief Executive for the Sunyani Municipal and the current Bono Regional Minister, Hon Justina Awo Banahene has urged the youth Groups, stakeholders and residents within the Sunyani municipality to focus on discussing on factual and verifiable developmental concerns rather than resorting to personal attacks.

The Bono Regional Minister made this known in a press statement on Sunday, December 5 which was signed by Mr Clement Bonsu, the head of the Public Affairs Directorate at the Regional Coordinating Council.

Residents in Sunyani after the Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori Atta announced in the 2022 budget in Parliament on Wednesday, November 17 to renovate the Sunyani Coronation Park, there has been an incessant pressure by stakeholders, youth groups and concerned residents in the airwaves to reject government’s decision to renovate the Sunyani Coronation Park.

One of the youth groups, Sunyani Youth Development Association, plans to have a peaceful demonstration on the principal street of Sunyani on December 12 to drive home their demand for new sports stadium as well as to call on the appropriate government agencies and ministries to complete various projects which have been abandoned for years within the municipality.

Kindly read the full press release below

PRESS RELEASE

CONCERNS OVER PERCEIVED “NEGLECT AND UNDER-DEVELOPMENT” OF THE SUNYANI MUNICIPALITY OF THE BONO REGION

The Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Justina Owusu-Banahene, has followed, with keen interest, the recent discourse within the media space on matters relating to the development of the Bono Region and Sunyani in particular.

The issues have primarily centered on concerns of perceived “neglect and under-development” of the Sunyani Municipality by successive Governments. Key concerns raised, by stakeholders and patrons who are spearheading this discourse, include the need for the construction of a new Sports Stadium, the completion of the Sunyani Airport; the completion of the Centre for National Culture Auditorium, the completion of the Regional Library Complex, among others.

The stakeholders and patrons have heeded to the clarion call of His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be “citizens and not spectators” and it is our cherished belief that their involvement in national discourse and development is the way to go. However, we wish to admonish patrons to be decorous in the discussions relating to the development of Sunyani and the Region as a whole. We call on all stakeholders to limit their discussions to the core issues which are factual and verifiable and not to resort to personal attacks and vilifications of certain individuals and institutions, which may cause unnecessary rebuttals and potential threat to the peace we enjoy in the region. The quest for development for the Bono Region should therefore unite and not divide us.

The Bono Regional Minister, having recognized the importance of all key stakeholders in nation building has not taken lightly the legitimate concerns raised and wishes to place on record that contrary to allegations within the media space that she is “unconcerned” about the development of the Region and Sunyani; its capital, in particular, she has been working assiduously to ensure that Sunyani and the Bono Region receive its deserved share of the national cake.

Over the past months, the Bono Regional Coordinating Council has been engaging several stakeholders and Institutions including but not limited to Hon. Ministers of State from the Region, Hon. Members of Parliament from the Region, the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, key Regional Departments directly responsible for the sectors, our Religious Leaders, and identifiable groups, all in a bid to collaborate to achieve the development aspirations of our people. Although discussions have been fruitful and have yielded positive outcomes which will crystallize into very tangible results in the near future, a section of our stakeholders believe that the results should be immediate.

It is important to mention that these collaborations undertaken have birthed several committees, under the auspices of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, which are currently working in earnest to resolve the pressing issues associated with the deliverables.

On its part, the RCC has been engaging the various Sector Ministries concerned for action to be taken on the pressing issues raised.

While Sunyani, like any other Regional Capital, should require continuous facelifts to meet global standards and make the lives of our citizens better, let us also not be oblivious of the fact that major developments continue to be witnessed in other sectors in Sunyani and the Bono Region under this Government. The NPP Government has not, does not and will not take the good people of Sunyani for granted.

As such we wish to assure the good people of the Region that the leadership of the Government in the Region, including the Regional Coordinating Council, all Hon. Members of Parliament in the Region, Hon. Municipal and District Chief Executives and the New Patriotic Party are encouraged by the feedback from the populace to do more and quicken processes to ensure that the development aspirations of our people are met.

In the short-term, the RCC intends to have a Region-wide Consultative Forum where all key patrons and stakeholders will develop a blueprint for the Region’s Strategic Development Framework. It is the fervent hope of the RCC that when the time is due, all citizens will contribute to this Initiative.

We extend our gratitude to the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Honourable Members of Parliament in the Region, the Traditional Authorities, our Religious Leaders, the Regional Peace Council, Political Parties, all Identifiable and Pressure Groups and the Media for their roles in ensuring the development of the Region.

Finally, the RCC is open to future collaborations and co-operation with all patrons and stakeholders who have the Region’s development at heart and call on all well-meaning citizens to contribute positively to building a great Bono Region for ourselves and posterity.

SIGNED:
CLEMENT BONSU
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE
020 817 0631